INDUSTRY NOTES

Newport Beach-based Flight Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Tracor Inc., has been awarded a $9.1 million, five-year contract from the U.S. Navy to provide operational and maintenance support for three launch aircraft. Richard Caton, manager of contracts at Flight Systems, said the company anticipates hiring about four new employees to work on the project, with a total of 12 employees assigned to the program.

The contract also involves Tracor Aviation, a Santa Barbara subsidiary of Tracor. The parent company, based in Austin, Texas, is a manufacturer of scientific instruments and electrical and electromechanical components.

Stuart C. (Sharky) Warrick Jr., president of Flight Systems and group vice president for the Tracor Flight Systems Group, said the Newport Beach company's involvement with the DC-130A drone aircraft has "been the key to turning the corner for us as a company."